What Causes Car Battery Drain in Cold Weather?
2 Answers
The reasons for car battery drain in cold weather are: 1. The switches of electrical devices were not turned off during parking; 2. There is current leakage in the vehicle body; 3. The battery's power supply performance has declined. The impacts of car battery drain include: 1. Affecting the battery's lifespan - frequent power loss will shorten its service time; 2. Preventing the car from starting normally and making other electrical devices inoperable. The functions of a car battery are: 1. Providing power to the starting system, ignition system, and electronic fuel injection system when starting the engine; 2. Supplying power to vehicle electrical devices when the engine is off or at low idle; 3. Assisting in powering electrical devices when the generator's output is insufficient; 4. Mitigating voltage surges in the electrical system to protect electronic equipment in the vehicle.
A while ago, my car had the same issue—it suddenly wouldn't start in temperatures below minus ten degrees Celsius. Car batteries are just like humans afraid of the cold; low temperatures make the electrolyte inside thick and sluggish, causing the electrons to move slowly and the battery power to plummet. What's worse, in winter, the engine oil becomes as thick as paste, making the engine much harder to turn over and increasing power consumption. On top of that, some older batteries are already on the verge of retirement, and when the cold hits, the electrode plates get covered in white crystalline deposits, cutting their charge capacity in half. The most frustrating part was when I once forgot to turn off the dashcam, and after three days of not driving, the battery was completely drained. So, in winter, try to park in an underground garage if possible, and if the car won't be used for over a week, it's best to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery.
